Toothbrush



Oct i 18,

Filed Ja'n. 28, 1927 Patented Oct. w18, 1927.

UNITED *STAT-'E5 'PATENTJ- FRANK L. BAILEY, or NEW BRUNsWicL'NEW JERSEY,AssiGNor. 'ro '.ionNsoN a n,

JOHNSON, or' NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY, A coRroiaai'rioN or NEWJERSEY.

TOOTHBRUSH.

A YM invention relates to tooth brushes and its objects are to improveupon the construction and'to increase the efficiency of tooth brushes. f

In one aspect the nature of the invention consists in so constructingand n'iounting the bristles as to provide for eflicient functioning ofthe brush in regions dillicultly ac- `cessible to the ordinary brush,namely, behind the third molar teeth and under bridgesandespecially'between the teeth and cheeks in the molar regions where thebuccal space is narrow.

In another aspect, the nature of the 1nyvention consists in providing abrush head calculated tov cooperate with a brush ofthe character statedand having a tapered handle of circular cross-section and whereof theend is chambered lto constitute a flossfont. Y

In another aspect the invention consists in providing a refill of dentalfloss, the floss being threaded through a novel form of cutoff andclosure member which is interchangeably tted to the original package orcontainer for the floss and to the flossfont of the handle, thusproviding for replenish ment of the flossfont without the necessity ofre-threading or otherwise touching the floss.

The invention in its preferred form is illustrated in the annexeddrawings, wherein Figure-1 is a perspective view of my 1mproved toothbrush. i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the receptacle end of thehandle.

Fig. 3 is a perspective viewk of the handle with the floss and cap indetached relation.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a capped or sealed original flosscontainer.

Fig. 5 is a similar view with the cap in detached relation.

Fig. 6 is an inside view of the interchangeable cap; and f y Fig. 7 is aview of a modification.

According to my, invention, I provide a solid or one-piece handle 5v ofgenerally tool handle form that is to say of tapered or cone form, roundin cross-section, whereof one end is ilat to constitute a brush head 6and whereof the other end is hollow to constitute a receptacle orliossfont?. The brush head is equipped with tufts of bristles whereofthe vpilot bristles 8 have squared or flat ends and whereof theimmediately adja# Application flied ianua'ryas, 1927.y sel-iai N6;164,316.

Vcent bristles 9? have theirfends sharply inclined rearwardly,the-remaining bristles 10 being trimmed'to provide the usual forwardinclination. The purpose and merit of this construction yand arrangementis that it.l enables the userto getfbeliind thethirdinolar teeth andunder bridges, etc. While the pilot tuft is thus afforded desirablerolling action, it is not so long with relation tothe bristles 9 that itwill flatten down when operating between the teeth and the cheek in themolar region wherey the buccal space is narrow.

The receptacle end ofthe'handle is provided with a'threaded neck 11 toaccommodate a cap 12 and it is a merit of the invention that the cap isinterchangeably fitted to an original floss container such as a glassvial or bottle 13, Figs. 4 and 5. The motive of the interchangeablefeature of the cap is to avoid casual contact of the person with thelossand to insure a dry environment for the floss. In the advancement ofthis thought, the cap is constructed and arranged 'as a suspensionelement for a floss quill 14,

the cap being provided with an eye 15 through which the free end 16 ofthe floss is threaded.y At a point diametrically opposite the eye 16,the cup has a struck-up portion 17, which constitutes a stay for thelioss and also as a means of severing the same. Within the cup andbearing against the head thereof is a rubber washer'18, which lfunctionsalternatively to prevent the ingress of water to the original flosscontainer or to lthe receptacle of the brush. The washer is apertured asat 19 for the passage of the floss and its binding action serves to putten sion on the floss.

The neck portion of the handle .is stopped by an annular ,projectionV orenlargement 20 whereof one side is sloped and vanishes in the body ofthe handle and whereof the other side provides a fiat shoulder to seatthe end of the ca The cappe end of the handle may be further safeguardedagainst the ingress of moisture to the floss chamber by, for example,theprovision of sealing means, as in Fig. 7. In that embodiment, thehandle is formed or provided withy an additional shoulder 21, to seat anexternal cap 22. The Y latter may have a friction fit or be screwthreaded, as shown, and its merit is that with a bail 23, affords aconvenient means of suspending the toothbrush.

Having described rny invention, I elaini:

1.,A,tooth brush asse1nbly,eornprisng a tooth wbrush having a conferoushandle formed With an integral flossfont having an externally threadedneck portion stoppeduby a flange whereof one side provides a flatshoulder for a closure and whereof ythe other side slopes into the bodyof the handle, andv an externally threaded neck portion stopped by aflange whereof one side provides av flat shoulder for a closure andwhereof the other side slopes into the body of the handle, a refill forthe flossfont having a Cap constituting a floss-suspension element andadaptedto fit said neck portion, and a Washer operating to seal thefloss receptacle and also to put tension on the floss.

3. A tooth brush of the flossfont type, having a floss-carrying innerseal, and havingV an outer seal telesooping the inner seal and equippedWith a bail.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK L. n-Artrn.`

